Log in

Milwaukee Brewers

Notes

After bullpen session, Matt Garza to face hitters soon

Associated Press

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig (far left), turns to see the unveiling of ‘Selig Hall of Fame Plaza.’ The San Diego Padres are renaming a part of Petco Park in honor of Selig, who will retire following the season.

San Diego — Following a second consecutive successful bullpen session Tuesday at Petco Park — one pitching coach Rick Kranitz termed "superb" — right-hander Matt Garza moved even closer to returning to action next week.

Whether that will be for the Milwaukee Brewers or in a minor-league rehab start is yet to be determined. But the important thing is Garza has not been bothered by the strained left oblique that sent him to the 15-day disabled list Aug. 5.

"That's what I saw," manager Ron Roenicke said of Kranitz's summation. "I'd say he's ready to go out somewhere."

Garza, who had his first bullpen session since being injured four days earlier at Miller Park, threw between 35-40 pitches with high effort in his latest outing. Assuming Garza reports no issues Wednesday, the next step will be determining just where he will make his next outing.

"We've already talked to him, and we've got a game plan of what we want to do," Roenicke said. "We'll see how he is tomorrow and then I'll kind of lay out what I'm thinking.

"We've had different discussions on which way to go with it, whether you do a simulated (game) or a rehab. We've run them all by him and talked to (general manager) Doug (Melvin) about it. We think we've come up with a good plan."

Garza, who missed seven weeks last season with a similar injury while with the Chicago Cubs, is well aware of the progression that needs to be made in order to not suffer a setback.

"I've done it before so I know when not to push and when you can push it," he said. "Right now we're not at a time where we have to push it, so that's a positive thing. The guys are doing a great job, and it's just come back healthy and strong and ready to go."

One way or another, Garza is ready to take that next step.

"Yeah, I have my eyes set on coming back as soon as possible," he said. "I always have. I'm not saying, 'I want to wait another two weeks.' Whenever I can get off the bump, I'm ready to go. I'm just waiting for the next time to toe it up."

Getting Garza back would provide another big boost to a Brewers rotation that has performed well in his absence. Mike Fiers has been lights-out as his replacement, rookie Jimmy Nelson has held his own and on Monday Kyle Lohse made a successful comeback from an ankle injury.

Now, Garza appears poised to join the Brewers for what looks to be an exciting stretch run in September.

"I'd rather have all of August and September, but I'll take what I can get and just do what I can to help the team win," said Garza, who is 7-7 with a 3.58 earned-run average in 23 starts (1452/3 innings).

Prospects selected: The Brewers will be well-represented in the 2014 Arizona Fall League.

Eight minor-leaguers from varying levels have been chosen to take part, it was announced Tuesday. They will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs, whose roster will also include players from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox organizations.

Zarraga is a taxi squad player, meaning he will be activated only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The Arizona Fall League, which is viewed as a finishing school of sorts for each organization's top prospects, is owned and operated by Major League Baseball. It features six teams in all.

Games are played six days a week in five Cactus League stadiums beginning Oct. 7.

Braun back: Ryan Braun was back in the lineup Tuesday night after suffering a left quad contusion and leaving the Brewers' 10-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning Monday.

Roenicke had a conversation with Braun before the game to ensure he would be able to go the distance, and prevent a situation like earlier in the season when Braun started a game in Cincinnati then had to pull himself after his first at-bat due to a nagging injury.

"I told him, 'OK, you're OK to go, but are you able to do everything, like run how you want to?' He said, 'Yeah, I think so,'" Roenicke said. "We've seen in the past, it becomes a mess, especially when you take out a 3 or 4 hitter from your lineup, and you're inserting a guy who shouldn't be 3 or 4."

Stay up to date on the Milwaukee Brewers wherever you are with "Milwaukee Baseball," the Journal Sentinel's mobile site for smartphones. Also available in both the Apple and Google Play app stores. Just search "Journal Sentinel baseball."Read more